Μake us preferred on Google A Greek doctor working for the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has been suspended from practicing medicine for six months after being found guilty of repeated sexually inappropriate conduct toward a younger female colleague at University Hospital Coventry.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, the physician, who worked as a senior clinical fellow in gastroenterology, faced allegations stemming from incidents that began in 2023.
One incident examined by the medical disciplinary panel involved the doctor scrolling through photos on his cellphone at a nurses’ station in July 2023 while standing next to the colleague. During the incident, an explicit photograph and a video showing the doctor engaged in a sexual act appeared on the screen.
The complainant testified that the doctor smiled and showed no indication that he was concerned she could see the explicit content.
Sexual Remarks
The panel also examined an earlier incident, approximately two months before, during which the doctor put his arm around the colleague and told her, “I will have sex with you before I return” either to Germany or Greece, although she could not recall which country he mentioned.
According to the complaint, he also told her he had slept with all the nurses at a previous hospital where he worked and discussed his interest in visiting museums dedicated to sexuality.
The disciplinary hearing took place last month.
Doctor Cited Social Isolation
In his defense, the doctor said he had recently relocated to the United Kingdom and felt socially isolated, arguing that this contributed to his failure to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Regarding the hug, he claimed he believed the gesture was normal because “this is how people greet each other in Greece.”
The disciplinary panel rejected that explanation, concluding that his conduct “went far beyond the boundaries of acceptable workplace behavior,” regardless of his cultural background.
Panel Says He Was “Testing the Boundaries”
During the proceedings, the doctor admitted that his behavior was sexually motivated.
The panel concluded that he had effectively been “testing the boundaries” of his colleague to determine whether a future romantic relationship might be possible.
The complainant testified that although the doctor initially appeared friendly and pleasant after joining the hospital, he flirted with nearly everyone.
According to the findings, he subjected her to inappropriate conduct over approximately 18 months, from January 2023 through September 2024.
Expressed Remorse
The doctor said he was shocked to learn that his behavior had caused his colleague fear, anxiety, reluctance to attend work, and significant psychological distress.
According to the ruling, he expressed deep remorse, stating that “it was never my intention to cause such distress.” He also said he had completed training on professional boundaries, sexual harassment, bullying, and the use of social media.
However, he maintained that he could not remember what prompted him to show the explicit material, saying they had been discussing various topics before he began scrolling through his phone.
Medical Regulator’s Position
Chloe Furley, representing the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC), argued that the doctor’s inability to explain why he displayed the explicit material raised questions about whether he truly understood the causes of his behavior.
She said his conduct escalated over time, beginning with comments about his sex life, progressing to statements that he intended to have sex with the colleague, and culminating in the display of explicit visual material.
Currently Working in Greece
According to the report, the doctor now works at a private medical practice in Thessaloniki.
He graduated from the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2008 and completed a postgraduate program at Queen Mary University of London in 2013. He later specialized in Germany, working in Essen, Magdeburg, and Bochum before moving to the United Kingdom.
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire said the hospital immediately suspended the doctor and notified police once it became aware of the allegations.
The spokesperson added that although the doctor’s fixed-term contract expired before the hospital completed its internal disciplinary process, the trust continued cooperating with the General Medical Council throughout the investigation.
